Combination bit shank



1933- E. E. MILLICAN COMBINATION BIT SHANK Filed July 15, 1931 E M N w w6 mm p I 1 I I I I I l I I I I I 1 l 1 l x 1 u l. 9 /4 1. 5 /1 2 y W g yg Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNi'TED s'rA'rEs COMBINATION BIT SHANK Earl E.Millican, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Allie O. Millican, Long Beach,Calif.

Application July 15, 1931. Serial No. 550,918

23 Claims.

My invention relates to a combination bit shank used for deep welldrilling.

An object and feature of my invention is the construction of the shankwith a plurality of separable parts to allow separation and assembly ofthese for the ready fitting of different types of disk bits or cuttersand for readily changing the arrangement of the bits and cutters.

Another object and feature of my invention is in a bit shank to have aremovable side plate on one side, this plate forming the means forsupporting and confining an enclosed journal for the axle of the diskbits, and such plate being readily attachable and removable fromthe-side of the body of the shank.

Another object and feature of my invention is in a bit shank to haveseparable parts for supporting, connecting and disconnectingthe diskbits, and to have these secured together in operative position by aconnection to a sub or the'like, which latter is connected to the drillpipe.

A more specific object and feature is the provision of the removableside plate, this being slidable longitudinally of the body of the shankand being connected to the shank by a dove-tailed guide, and alsoholding in place a dove-tailed loose plate which forms one end for theaxle pin of the disks, and this slidable holding plate has a screwthreaded upper end aligning with the threads on the shank and forming apin which is held in the box of the sub.

A further general object of my inventionis securing the axle pin anddisks of a disk type of bit in position without using securing pins,keys, or screw threaded connections; and a feature of my connection isthat the various connecting parts of the bit shank which hold the pinand the disk cutters in place are protected from wear on the formation.Therefore there is but little chance of the pins and the disks comingloose.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. l is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 2partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line,3-3 of' Fig. 2 in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5.5,of Fig. 3 in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an inside elevation of a removable side plate.

In considering'my invention, the bit shank as an assembly is designatedby the numeral 11. This has a substantial body structure 12 with acentral portion 13, and on one side there is a depending leg 14. Thebody structure of the shank has a flat side 15 With a dove-tailedprojec- I ticn 16, and on this is fitted the remobable holding andretaining plate 17. Such plate has a longitudinal recess 18 withprojecting side ribs 19. This recess is undercut in a dovetailed mannerto fit the dove-tailed projection 16 on the side of the body. The lowerend of this plate has a closure rib 20 but the upper end 21 is open. Theupper end also has a squared abutment end 22' and there are a pair ofside, deep, narrow notches 23. r

These notches 23 are caused by the pin portion 24 of the holding plate17 being tapered upwardly and the dove-tail on the inside of thisholding plate meeting the taper of the threads, hence, there are notches23 formed at the root of the dove-tail at the top of the holding plate17.

The lower portion of this plate maybe considered as forming a side leg26, leaving a space 27 between the two legs to accommodate the diskbits. A loose journal plate 28 has an outer face 29 wider than its innerface 30, thus forming a dove-tailed shape in cross section. Such platehas an upper abutment end 31 which fits in a side socket 32 at one sideof the body portion 13 of the, shank. This plate at the top is of thesame width as the lower portion of the dove-tail 16 on the body of theshank and tapers downwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Nearthe lower portion of this plate there is a square opening 33 whichaccommodates the squared end 34 of the axle pin 35. This axle pin hasits opposite end 36, which end is formed cylindrical, housed in acylindrical socket 37 on the inside of the leg 14. Thus the axle pin issupported on one side on this support and on the other side in thesquared opening 33 of the loose plate.

In order to provide for slushing mud or the like the shank has acentralbore 38 from which extend a pair of ducts 39, these having dischargeopenings 40 (note Fig. 1) which discharge directly downwardly into thecenter of the open space 27 beween the leg 14 and the leg portion 26 ofthe side plate. It will be noted that the pin portion 25 of the shankhas the usual taper and a contacting shoulder 41. As above mentioned,the taper on the pin and on the upper end of the removable side plate1'7 is threaded, forming a pin, and this is threaded into the box 42 ofthe sub 43, which sub is secured to a tooljoint 44 and this latter issecured to the drill pipe 45.

" tion have a dove-tailed connection and are pro- In this application Ido not desire to be restricted to any particular type of disk or othercutters but illustrate a suitable construction which may be used withthis shank. In this construction the axle pin 35 has two eccentricsections 46, these being adjacent the outer portion and with twoeccentric collars 47 at the center. Bushings 48 are fitted on theeccentric portions of the ring, these having a side flange 49. Loosecollars 50 are also mounted on each eccentric 46 and are utilized toconfine the hub portion 51 of the disk cutters 52, these cutters bearingat their center on the bushings 48. When the axle pin is removed thedisk cutters and the bushings are readily removed.

The mode of assembly and operation of my invention is as follows:

A suitable type of disk cutter is. placed on the axle pin, this having around end, as above mentioned, thrust in the socket 37. The opposite endof the pin is supported in the square opening 33 of the loose supportingplate 28. The removable side plate 17 is-then slid upwardly, the longitudinal recess fitting on the dove-tail 16 of the shank and havingitslower edge 20 on the inside engage the lower portion of the plate 28.The upper portion of the plate l'l being screw threaded andtaperedallows attachment of the sub, the sub, therefore, holding this assemblyof parts in their operative position.

The pin axles being mounted eccentrically in the legs are so arrangedthat the disks have a short lead beyond the legs in, their direction ofrotation, which arrangement causes the disks to have an even cuttingaction on the vertical sides and on the bottom of the hole.

It will be noted by my construction that the elements of the bit shankwhich hold the axle pin and the disks in position being composed of the,plate 28 and the removable side leg constructectedfrom wear on theformation on the cutting action of the bits. There are no connectingparts which may wear and thereby allow dropping of w the axle or thedisks.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined bytheappended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a connectibleand disconnectible side plate,- said plate forming a leg on one side ofthe shank, the main body of the shank having another leg formed integraltherewith, means formand the opposite Side being 7 flat with a 1Ongi ingaguiding connection between said plate-and the body portion of the shankto allow longitudinalsliding of the plate forconnecting anddisconnecting, an axle pin, means cooperating with the removable plateto secure the'axle pin in position between the two legs, and means toattach said plate to thebody structure of the shank.

2. A combination bit shank as claimed in claim 1, the guiding connectionproviding a dove-tailed projection and a dove-tailed groove forinterconnecting the removable plate and the body structure-of the shank,said plate being insertable fronr-the-lower end of the shank structureand slidable upwardly, and means forming a limit to the upward movementof said plate.

3. A combination bit shank as claimed in claim 1, a lose axle supportingplate mounted in the removable plate and forming a support for one endof ;.the axle pin,-the other end being supported in the leg connectedto.the bodyof the shank;

said supporting plate being connectible and disconnectible from theplate forming the leg by a relative sliding movement of said plates.

4. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral therewith on one side, a slidably mounted retaining plateforming a leg on the opposite side, an interlocking guide means betweenthe body structure and said plate, an axle supporting plate having aslidable connection with the retaining plate, said retaining plate beingconnectible by sliding upwardly on the shank and on the plate supportingthe axle, the retaining plate retaining the supporting plate inposition, an axle pin having its ends nonrotatably mounted in theremovable supporting plate and in the integral leg of the shank, andmeans to attach the retaining plate to the shank.

5. A combination bit shank as claimed in claim 4, the shank body havingan abutment at its upper end, said retaining plate fitting against saidabutment, the upper end of the retaining plate and the upper end of thebody structure of the shank having screw threads formed in alignment,and said screw'threads being adapted for connection to a tooljoint forattaching to a string of drill pipe.

6. A combination disk bit comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral therewith on one side, the opposite side being flat and havinga dove-tailed, longitudinal projection, aremovable leg plate having alongitudinal, dove-tailed recess to interconnect with the projection,said 7 recess being open at the upper endand closed at its lower end,there being a space, formed between the two legs, an axle pinbhaving oneend fitted in the leg integral with the shank, means securing the otherend non-.rotatably mounted in the'shiftable leg, and means to attach theShiftu tatably support the axle pin, there being an abut-v ment orshoulder at the lower end of the dovetailed recess to engage the end ofsaid plate, the upper end of the shank and the upper end of theremovable leg being threaded and adapted to be secured to the samethreaded coupling.

,8. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral on one side tudinal dove-tailed projection, the upper end ofthe shank being tapered and having screw threads, such threads in partbeing interrupted dove-tailed in section and tapered toward the bottom,with a' bottom closure having a shoulder, a relatively loose platebeveled on its edges of the same slope as the dove-tail of theprojection, said plate being adapted to align with the projection and tofit in the dove-tailed recess of the removable leg, said recessbeingopen at the top and being insertable from the lower end of theprojection on the shank, there being an abutment in the shank to engagethe upper end of the leg,

' the upper .outer portion of the leg having a tapered thread of thesame type and pitch'as that on the shank to be engaged by a holdingcoupling,

andmeans in the integral leg and in the loose projection.

plate to non-rotatably hold an, axle pin, said pin 7 having means formounting cutters.

9. A combination bit shankas claimed in claim 8, the upper portion ofthe removable leg plate having a pair of notches, said notchespermitting exposure of the upper edge or the dove-tailed 10. Acombination bit shank having a shank structure formed with a pluralityof conneetible and disconnectible elements and with means to secure abit between said elements, a connecting and rotating means to a stringof drill pipe for retaining said elements in operative position and forrotating said elements, and an additional means independent of theconnecting means for retaining said elements from relative lateralmovement in any direction independently of said connecting and rotatingmeans.

11. A combination bit shank comprising a shank structure having a pairof legs, one of said legs being integral with the shank and the otherleg being removable, an axle pin, means forming a mounting for the pin,cutting bits on the pin, the removable leg retaining the pin in positionbe,- tween the pair of legs, an attaching means securing the removableleg to the body of the shank, and means independent and additional tosaid attaching means to attach the together to restrain lateral movementof the legs one in relation to the other at the axle pin in a directionat right angles to the axle pin.

12. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral therewith on one side, a removable leg slidably connected tothe shank body to slide in a longitudinal direction of such body, therebeing a space between the lower ends of such legs, means to support anaxle between the lower ends of said legs, and bits on said axleoperating in said space, an attaching and driving means for securing theupper end of the removable leg to the shank body and adapted forconnection to a drill pipe for transmitting rotary motion to they shankbody and the legs, means formed integral with the shank body, and asecond means formed integral with the removable leg for securing suchleg to the shank body independently of the attaching means, saidintegral means preventing relative lateral movement of the lower ends ofthe legs in any direction.

13. A combinationbit shank comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral therewith on one side, a slidably mounted retaining plateforming a leg on the opposite side, an interlocking guide means betweenthe body structure and said plate for sliding said plate upwardlylongitudinally on the bit shank from its lower end, an abutment meansfor limiting the upward sliding, there being a space between thelowerportions of said legs, means to mount an axle pin between the lowerportions of said legs, cutting bits on the axle operating in said space,and an attaching and driving means between the upper end of said plateand the shank body for attaching said plate to the shank body andpreventing longitudinal sliding of such plate, said attaching meansforming a rotary drive connection for a string of drill pipe.

14. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a first legformed integral therewith on one side, a slidably mot nted retaining orholding plate forming a leg on the opposite side, a guide means forsliding the retaining plate longitudinally of the shank body from thelower end thereof, an abutment to limit the up ward sliding of saidplate, therebeing a space between the lower end of said legs, means tomount an axle pin operating in said space, an attaching androtating'means attaching the upper end of the holding plate to the shankbody and forming means for transmitting rotary motion from a drill pipeto this shank body, said attaching means forming the sole restrainingmeans for preventing removal of the holding plate downwardly in alongitudinal direction.

, A combination bit shank as claimed in claim 14, the lower portion ofthe holding plate having a journal plate secured thereto, and the axlebeing connected betweenthe journal plate and the integral leg.

16. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a leg formedintegral there with on one side, a slidably mounted retaining plateforming a leg on the opposite side, there being a dove-tailed lockingguide structure between the shank body and said retaining plate forsliding said plate upwardly in the lower end of the shank body, saidretaining plate at the bottom having a closure rib, means for mountingan axle pin secured to the lower portion of the retaining plate and thelower portion of the integral leg, bits on said pin, an attaching androtating means connecting the upper portion of the retaining plate andthe shank body and transmitting rotary motion from a string of drillpipe to the shank body and hence to the legs, said dove-tailedconnection of the retaining plate and the shank body preventing relativelateral movement of the lower portion of the retaining plate and theintegral leg in any direction.

1'7. A combination bit shank as claimed in claim 16, a journal platehaving a dove-tailed connection with the lower portion of the retainingplate and forming the means for mounting one end of the axle pin.

' 18. A combination bit shank comprising a shank body having a first legformed integral therewith on one side, a guide structure on the otherside extending longitudinally of said body, a holding plate having aninterlocking means with the guide structure and connectible from,

the lower end of said body, the lower end of the holding plate forming asecond leg, an axle pin having bits thereon, and means for mounting saidaxle pin between the two legs, the upper end of the holding plate andthe upper end of the shank body being threaded and having a couplingstructure threaded thereon, said coupling structure I being adapted forconnection to a string of drill pipe, said coupling structure formingthe sole means for preventing removal of said holding plate downwardlyon the shank, and said coupling structure and the interconnection of theholding plate and the guide structure preventing relative lateraldisplacement in any direction of the legs relative to each other.

19. In a disk bit, the combination of a shank having one leg formedintegral therewith and the other leg formed as part of a disconnectibleside plate, said side plate being longitudinally slidably assembled onthe shank and connected to the shank by means for rotating the shank,said rotating means restraining the side plate from longitudinal removalfrom the shank, anaxle pin having one end rotatably mounted in theintegral leg and the other non-rotatably mounted in the removable plateand leg, said pin having a pair of cylindrical sections eccentric one tothe other and a disk rotatably mountedon each eccentric section.

body having one leg formed integral therewith, a removable plate havingalongitudinally slidable and interlocking connection with the'shank body,

the lower part of said plate forming a second-leg, said plate beingconnected tothe shank body to restrain its longitudinal removal by ameansfor rotating said shank body, a retaining means mounted in thelower part of the removable leg, an axle'pin having one end rotatablymounted in the integral leg and the other end non-rotatably mounted insaid retaining .means, said pin having cylindrical eccentric sections,each with a central collar, bushings on said sections, and a diskmounted on each bushing, means bearing against a collar for retainingeach disk adjacent one of the legs, and said means retaining the disksspaced from its adjacent collar.

21. A combination bit shank having a shank structure witha plurality oflegs,,one of said legs being removable for assembling and disa semblinga bit, a bit secured between said legs, an attaching and rotating meansfor attaching the removable leg to the remaining'portion of the shankand for rotating the bit shank with the legs and the bit, and inaddition a securing means independent of the attaching and rotatingmeans to attachthelower part of the legs together to restrain relativelateral movement in any direction of the lower portion of the legs onein relation to the other.

' 22. A combination bit shank comprising a shank structure having aplurality of legs with a bit secured between the legs, one of the legsbeing connectible and disconnectible for assembling and disassemblingthe bit, a connecting means to a stringfofdrillpipe forming asecuringmeans for the removable leg to the shank, and means in additionalndindependent of said connecting means toa'ttachthe lower part of the legstogether to restrain relative lateral movement in any direction of thelegs one in relation to the other adjacent the portion securing the bit.

23. A combination bit shank comprising a shank structure formed of aplurality of parts, such parts being'l'ongitudinally slidable forassembly in the direction of the axes of the shank when drilling inreference to each other and being connectibleland disconectible by suchlongitudinal sliding movement, a cutting bit secured to said parts andsupported thereby, and means for attaching said parts togethercomprising a connection from said shank to a string of drill pipe.

EARL E. MILLICAN.

